In a bloody beginning to the new year in Egypt, a suicide bombing outside a Coptic church in Alexandria killed at least 21 people and injured dozens more. “This massacre has al-Qaida written all over ... ,” a church official said.

In his weekly radio address Saturday, President Obama committed himself in 2011 to improving the economy, creating jobs and strengthening the middle class. Here’s to a New Year’s resolution that hopefully won’t be broken.

At a time of the year when alcohol consumption is traditionally up in Russia, a campaign against alcoholism launched recently by President Dmitry Medvedev will substantially raise the price of vodka. The cost of the cheapest half liter will increase to at least 89 rubles (about $3) from about 50 rubles.